Electric disconnecter



Oct. 5 1926.

G. C. OXER ET AL ELECTRIC DISCONNE'CTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 6| 1922 AWN Z //l l... VL N. O

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UNITED STATES GEORGE Cf OXER AND MAURICE IVI.v SAMUELS, OF NEW YORK, 'N'.

ELECTRIC DIsooNNno'rER-f animation mea November e, 192e. serial Nd. 599,437.

connection withoil circuit breakers which ing are employed on high tension circuits, the purpose of' disconnecting the oil circuit breakers from the energized conductors, when it becomes necessary to inspector repair the oil circuit breaker; or to connect said oil circuit breaker to the conductors ofy the same or another circuit; or to cause an opening to be made in an electric conductor by drawing -apart a movable contact, carryone member away Ifrom the otherxed member to a safe electrical distance, or to close an opening in an electrical conductor by 4bringingone terminal of the' conductor up to the other xed terminal and joining by suitable contact pieces.

Our new form ofdisconnecter is particularly adaptable to the operation of any number of single pole elements, in a single group, as" per example: Three single pole elements operated simultaneously by one suitable op'- erating mechanism would constitute a complete disconnecter for a three phase circult, such operating mechanism bein either manually or electrically actuated. is disconnecter has special advantages when used on electric circuits of high potentialheither unexposed or exposed to the weather, more;

particularly 'the latter.

The most primitive ,form of disconnecter for this purpose 'consisted of a bar of metal called a blade, hinged'at one end to a conductor terminal, the whole supportedon an insulator, and making suitable'contact at the othery end, with the conductor terminal, which'is also mounted on an insulator. In order to operate manually such a disconnecter with safety a suitable portable rod of insulating material. was used to draw the metal blade forward or backward. For very highg'voltages, safety of life necessitatedgreat distancev between the disconnecter and the person operating same; thus the insulating rod. becomes very long and unwieldy-in the hands of the operator, re-

A quiring considerable time and risk to engage said rod with the disconnecter blade. Furthermore, as rain, snow, or sleet, this method becomes dangerous to the safety of both the operator and the property. f

In the case of al single phase electric cirfor in severe weather conditions, such cuit two of such disconnecters were installed, and in the case of a three-phase circuit'three were installed. l

The next step in development was to attempt to move two or more of these single elements simultaneously by a single operation. Such a disconnecter is known, and consists of two or more metal blades, which form a part of the electrical circuit, each attached to the conductor on a suitable insulator by means of a hinge and making connection with the conductor at theopposite end by means of a suitable contact supported on a suitable insulator. are in turn connected, by means of suitable insulators, with a common actuating mechanism, which in turn is actuated at a distance either manually or electrically. This form of disconnecter has the disadvantages that the insulators in the moving mechanism are subject to lateral strains, and the contacts cannot be completely protected from snow and ice. great length of blade necessary at high voltages requires excessive clearance distances when mounting the disconnecter for use.

Another form of disconnecter known consists of metal arm, forming art of the electrical circuit ard supporte the centerr on an insulator, which insulator is4 so mounted on a fixed base that it-may be rotated through an angle of 90. The ends of the conductor to-be connected or disconnected are mounted, together with suitable contacts, each on an`insulator fixed -to a base which is common to all three insulators.

The metal bladesv Further, the

rigidly at Thus byl rotating the movable insulator the more of these single by la 'single actuating operated in unison mechanism,

distance, eithei` manually or electricall.

This -form disconnecter has, Athe disa y vantages that the electrical conductor is` open at twof points simultaneously instead4 of one. which increases the probability of trouble at contacts by and that said two contacts cannot Abe entirelyl :protected from snow and ice, in that they must necessarily stand at right angles vto the plane of the disconnecter, and in the plane ofthe rotating blade. Furthermore, in operating the end located on the fixed insulators. Two -orl which in turn is'- actuated at a disconnecter by rotating the moving insulator 'thel porcelain Q f said insulator is subjected to torsional stresses which often cause move forward or its failure, or the insulator becomes loosened from the metal support upon which it isumounted.

y Another form of disconnecter knownconsists of a double metal blade, which is a part ot the electricalcircuit, both membe s of which are mounted rigidly on a suitab insulator, which insulator is caused to move yin the direction of the axis of the conductor. The two 'terminals of the conductor, together with suitable contact devices, are mounted `on insulators whichiare fixed upon ythe supporting structure and in the same plane as the moving insulator. The contact pieces attached to the double blade are mounted between the single elements of the blade in the same plane,.and parallel to the axis of the blade. By causing the blade to backward the contact 'y pieces of the blade engage the fixed contacts,

y invention.-

' instead ofone, I l

ity of trouble vat the contacts by 100%; that thus connecting or disconnecting the con; ductor as the case may be. By comblning two or more of the said movable insulators with their blades on a common base,. and in turn moving said common base by a suitable mechanism a disconnecter for several conductors may be operated by a single actuating mechanism, either manually lor electrically. The disadvantages of this form of disconnecter are that the conductor is open or closed, as the case may be, at two points which increases the probabilthe blade is 'necessarily mounted on the movable insulator in such a position that the major portion of said blade constitutes a cantilc'vcr beam, which becomes longfor high voltages, and is very unsteady due to `Vibration, thus .necessitating a ,large centering medium at the extreme contact point; that in disconnecters for two or more high voltage conductors .the mounting of all of the moving insulators and blades on a common base, which'base is'moved by a suitable mechanism, constitutes an unnecessarily heavy and cumbersome structure which' is dificult to align, will collect large masses of snow and ice, and requires much power to operate.

Other discounectcrsare known but the' forms which we have described are the most widely known and the enumerated disadvantages are in general similar in all. These disadvantages we have overcome in- ,our i Our disconnecter opens the conductorl at onepoint only, one terminal of the conductor remaining in a fixed posil,tion while the other terminal of the conductoris translated in the direction parallel to Ythe axis'of the conductor, to a safe distance lfrom the fixed terminal, thus effectively disconnecting the circuit. Our invention will be best understood by referring Ato the accompanying drawing, which shows a pre' ferred embodiment thereof, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the disconnecter. In this fi re the disconnecter is shown in the close position, the dotted lines indicating the open position, that is, theN position in which the conductor is disconnected.

Figure 2 shows a front elevation of the disconnecter, together with the operating mechanism, as employed in connection with three conductors, known as athree phase circult.

Slmllarnumerals refer to similar parts throughout.

- As shown in the drawing, one terminal 1 of the conductor 2 together with the stationary contact pieces 3 and 4 are mounted on an insulator 5' which in .t-urn is mounted rigidly at one end of disconnecter base 6.

The other terminal 7 of the conductor 8 together with contact member 9 are mounted on a second insulator 10 'which insulator .is in turn mounted on an independent and movable base 11.

'iol

A third insulator l2 is mounted rigidly at i the other end of disconnecter base, 6 and supports conductor 8 which is lsecurely attached thereto.

its base 11 is made to move backward or forward 'between the fixed insulators 5` and 1 axis of the conductors 12, in line with the 2 and 8 and in the plane of the axes .of the `and. 12 by a suitable thus connecting or disconnectfixed insulatorsv 5 mechanism, ing the circuit, as the case may be, by causing moving contact piece 9 to engage or disengage with fixed contact members 3 and 4.

' The movable insulator 10 and its base 11*v are supported, as well as translated, by the threaded nuts 13 which engage with the screw 14; base 11 being rigidly attached to threaded` nuts 13. Screw 14 is sodesigned that when rotated, the pressure' developed between itself and threaded nuts 13 will crush and shear away ice that may accumulate thereon. Support is obtained for screw 14 by meansof bearing 15 attached to one end of disconnecter attached to the other end of disconnecter base6, and bearing 1 6' base-6. Motion is transmitted to screw 14,

.Y `9:1- The movable insulatorr 10 together with-f it moves only in the plane of all times,

" l above descrlbed f and 22, are totally ll'g 23, which isrigidly attached to and becomes apart of disconnecter `base 6. Like'- 'Wise `bearing 15 .is totallyv 'enclosed in a Hmetal housing 24, which is rigidly attached ".,to and becomes a part ofz disconnecter base 6.

v removable,

` ticular advanta base 6 in a vertical position, thus ercludingr movable insulator 10. This joined link 18 is actuated bythe movable insulator 10, and carries'thereon the flexible conductor 8; the axes of the insulators and 12, having no lateral motion, and in a direction away 6in opening, and towards the baseof the disconnecter in iexible conductor 8 taut and in the planeof the axes of the insulators 5, 10 and 12', at

ter for two or more 'Acomplete disconne' ructed and operated conductors can be cons in unison by mounting two or .more of the elements, each one parallel to the other and co ecting the movable in-` gleltlher by means of a suitsulator bases 11 tp able rigid dista elements are /t ce piece 19; The several en .actuated individually from a'common mechanism, consisting of gears 2O mounted rigidly on shaft 21; gears 2O meshing with an transmitting power to ars 17. Thershaft 21 is securely mounted ymeans of bearings 22, to the disconnecter bases,'6. Power for operating the complete disconnecter, 1s transmitted to shaft 21,'by

fmeans of'a' suitable' mechanism 26, and may be either manual or electric.

In order that 'the Amay-be completely .protected from snow an `ice, and suitable,

ubrication assured, the together with bearings 16 gears 17 and 20,`

enclosed by'a metal hous- 1n order that the contact members 8' and '4e may be protected from snow' and ice, .a

.protective covering 25, of metal or suitable jpiaterial, is provided.. vThis protective coverl 1n rectangular or elliptic section open' only at one end, through whichthe contact member 9 enters, and conv taining therein,

'25'cons1sts of a box o the said contact members 3 vand 4 or other' suitableV form of Contact;

jmember. The protectivel covering 25 may be an' integral part ofthe members attached to insulator V5, Vand, have v aj removable cover or it may be plate for' access to the interior, a vseparate member, detachable, and .entirely fori access `to the contact members 3 and 4orother suitable form.l

Thel specific type of fixed contact members Y* -3 and 4, and movable contact member 9,-

' are shown thus v only for trating our invention, afs-numerous purposes of illusknown contact devices maybe used, within 6" the protective covering 25, with the same result.

' This new type e 'when mounted with the snow or ice, at the top and all four sides,

from the basevv closing, thus keeping the operating mechanism' d forms herein shown, but intend to cover by forms of ot'disconnecter is of par` from the liked Contact, a feature which other forms of disconnecter do not possess, The

mounting is not restricted to this position,-

vas it can be employed to advantage in'any other position, either'indoors or outdoors. The advantages of our disconnecter are,

that thefponductor 1s opened at one pointy only, by sin le contact members; that when mounted in a vertical position the. upper contact member is completely protected from rain, lsnow and ice; that the moving insulator is'translated bodil with a uniform motion, and not subjecte to appreciable shock, torsional or cantilever the connecting or disconnecting of the circuit is positive, when the mechanism is actuated; that the transmitting links of the com- -mon actuating mechanism are completely the claims, allchanges and modifications which are within the spirit and scope of our invention.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure kby Letters Patent, of the United States of America, is

1. In a device of the character described, a stationary contact, a stationary conductor terminal, means for insulatingly supporting vsaid contact and terminal, a contact mount- .ed for movement in a straight line toward and. away from said stationary contact, means for lnsulatingly supporting said movable contact, a flexible conductor connecting said movable contact with said terminal, means for moving said movable contact into and out of co-operating relation with said stationary contact by a straight line movement, and a pair of links connecting the insulating supporting means for said terminal and movable contact, said links having means for supporting said conductor so that the same lies on one side ofsaid links near the ends thereof and on the opposite side of said links near said pivot to hold said flexible conductor substantially taut torfany'position of said movable contact. j

of fixed insulating supporting members, a

stationary Contact on one of said members, a conductor terminal on the other of said members. a mqvableinsulator mounted to monein straghtfllinpath between said n'embers a' member Vhavrri'gscrew-threaded engagement therewith fornoving said mov- 2. A single break switch comprising a pair' stresses; that loo able insulator, a Contact member mounted said movable insulating member to align the thereon movable into and out of eo-operat'` movable contact with the stationary contact,

l ing relation with saidstation'ary Contact, a Signed' at New York, in Athe county of l0 flexible conductor connecting said terminal New York and State of New York, this 31st and movableontact and a pair of links forl clay of October, A.' D. 1922.' supporting Said conductor connecting the Y GEORGE C. OX-ER. conductor terminal insulating member and MAURlCE M. SAMUELS. 

